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| Coronavirus: Police told to be 'consistent' with lockdown approach | Coronavirus: Police told to be 'consistent' with lockdown approach |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| UK police officers have been told to take a "consistent" approach when ensuring people comply with emergency measures aimed at curbing coronavirus. | UK police officers have been told to take a "consistent" approach when ensuring people comply with emergency measures aimed at curbing coronavirus. |
| Guidance to officers calls on forces to "coordinate" efforts and emphasises the importance of professionalism. | Guidance to officers calls on forces to "coordinate" efforts and emphasises the importance of professionalism. |
| It comes amid criticism of the way some forces have handled the new measures. | It comes amid criticism of the way some forces have handled the new measures. |
| A former Justice of the Supreme Court told the BBC one force's use of drones to film walkers in the Peak District had been "disgraceful". | A former Justice of the Supreme Court told the BBC one force's use of drones to film walkers in the Peak District had been "disgraceful". |
| But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said police forces were doing a difficult job and being sensible about enforcing social distancing measures. | |
| 'Questioning mindset' | |
| New guidance was issued to police on Thursday when officers were given powers to fine people who gather in groups or refuse to return home, following social distancing measures introduced by the government last week. | |
| The document from the National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing, seen by the BBC, says communities must receive a "consistent" level of service from officers as well as a "single style and tone". | The document from the National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing, seen by the BBC, says communities must receive a "consistent" level of service from officers as well as a "single style and tone". |
| It also advises police to keep an "inquisitive, questioning mindset" when finding out why people are not at home. | It also advises police to keep an "inquisitive, questioning mindset" when finding out why people are not at home. |
| If people are vulnerable and cannot safely return home, the new enforcement measures should not be used, it says. | If people are vulnerable and cannot safely return home, the new enforcement measures should not be used, it says. |
| However, some forces have adopted different approaches, particularly around the issue of driving. | However, some forces have adopted different approaches, particularly around the issue of driving. |
| Derbyshire Police has used drones to film people parking their cars for walks in the Peak District. | Derbyshire Police has used drones to film people parking their cars for walks in the Peak District. |
| On Monday, Lord Sumption, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, told Radio 4's World At One the actions of Derbyshire Police - which also included uploading drone footage of walkers to social media - had "shamed our policing traditions". | On Monday, Lord Sumption, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, told Radio 4's World At One the actions of Derbyshire Police - which also included uploading drone footage of walkers to social media - had "shamed our policing traditions". |
| "The tradition of policing in this country is that policemen are citizens in uniform, they are not members of a disciplined hierarchy operating just at the government's command," he said. | "The tradition of policing in this country is that policemen are citizens in uniform, they are not members of a disciplined hierarchy operating just at the government's command," he said. |
| "The police have no power to enforce ministers' preferences but only legal regulations which don't go anything like as far as the government's guidance." | "The police have no power to enforce ministers' preferences but only legal regulations which don't go anything like as far as the government's guidance." |
| Since the incident, there have been discussions among senior officers about the need for police to exercise common sense and sound judgment. | Since the incident, there have been discussions among senior officers about the need for police to exercise common sense and sound judgment. |
| Martin Hewitt from the National Police Chiefs' Council told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that forces were "finding their way" in dealing with the unprecedented measures. | Martin Hewitt from the National Police Chiefs' Council told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that forces were "finding their way" in dealing with the unprecedented measures. |
| The chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, Andy Marsh, said: "We all agreed we wanted to see this done with the consent of the public. | The chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, Andy Marsh, said: "We all agreed we wanted to see this done with the consent of the public. |
| "We're not going to enforce our way out of this problem - we'll get out of this problem because people want to solve the problem, and we'll get out of it because we've got the public at our side and they will lead us through it," he told the BBC's Newsnight programme. | "We're not going to enforce our way out of this problem - we'll get out of this problem because people want to solve the problem, and we'll get out of it because we've got the public at our side and they will lead us through it," he told the BBC's Newsnight programme. |
| Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, one of the UK's most senior police officers, said officers must preserve "the trust and confidence of the public" and maintain the tradition of "policing by consent". | Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, one of the UK's most senior police officers, said officers must preserve "the trust and confidence of the public" and maintain the tradition of "policing by consent". |
| The latest number of deaths announced in the UK of people with coronavirus has reached 1,408. | The latest number of deaths announced in the UK of people with coronavirus has reached 1,408. |
| On Monday, the UK's chief scientific adviser said there were early signs the social distancing measures - which restrict people's travel and activities outside their home - were "making a difference". | On Monday, the UK's chief scientific adviser said there were early signs the social distancing measures - which restrict people's travel and activities outside their home - were "making a difference". |
| Sir Patrick Vallance said at the government's daily coronavirus news briefing that the NHS was seeing around an additional 1,000 patients a day and described this daily rise as "stable". | Sir Patrick Vallance said at the government's daily coronavirus news briefing that the NHS was seeing around an additional 1,000 patients a day and described this daily rise as "stable". |
| "That shows that it's going up not in an increasing amount but in a constant amount, which may suggest that we're already beginning to see some effect," he said. | "That shows that it's going up not in an increasing amount but in a constant amount, which may suggest that we're already beginning to see some effect," he said. |
| It was the second day in a row that daily deaths had fallen, although Sir Patrick cautioned against paying "too much attention" to day-to-day fluctuations in figures. | It was the second day in a row that daily deaths had fallen, although Sir Patrick cautioned against paying "too much attention" to day-to-day fluctuations in figures. |
| Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Britons stranded abroad by the coronavirus pandemic will be flown home under a new arrangement between the government and airlines. | Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Britons stranded abroad by the coronavirus pandemic will be flown home under a new arrangement between the government and airlines. |
| Airlines including British Airways, Virgin and easyJet will work with the government to help fly tens of thousands of Britons back to the UK. | Airlines including British Airways, Virgin and easyJet will work with the government to help fly tens of thousands of Britons back to the UK. |
| Speaking at the press briefing, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the Foreign Office had also set aside £75m to charter special flights where commercial ones are unavailable. | Speaking at the press briefing, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the Foreign Office had also set aside £75m to charter special flights where commercial ones are unavailable. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| How have you and people you know been affected by coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How have you and people you know been affected by coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |